Indiana state police and Austin City Police conducting death investigation

Written by Marcus Amos

Sunday, 07 January 2018 20:19

Austin-On Sunday, Jan.7, at approximately 2:21 pm, the Austin City Police Department responded to 408 West Maple Street in Austin to a deceased male located in the back yard of the residence. When officers arrived they found the corpse of Devin A. Mulley, 37, from English Avenue in Austin, in the back yard of the residence. Devin Mulley lived near the residence where his body was found.

It is unknown at this time the cause of Devin Mulley’s death, how long he had been deceased and how long he had been located in the yard of the residence. There were no obvious signs of trauma located on his body.

The Scott County Coroner’s Office took custody of Devin A. Mulley’s body and will be further examining the body and performing Toxicology tests.

The Indiana State Police with the assistance of the Austin City Police will be conducting a death investigation to make sure there was no foul play involved.

A young Scottsburg mother was being sought by officers this past week for felony neglect of a dependent and misdemeanor theft.

Security personnel at the local Wal-Mart called on December 12 after catching an alleged shoplifter, Hannah P. Cole, 20. Deputy J.R. Ward and Scottsburg Patrolman L. Travis Rutherford went to the store to investigate. Cole, store personnel stated, had taken two containers of baby formula from store shelves.

Cole did not have her identification with her, so Deputy Ward escorted her to her vehicle in the parking lot to get it. When they arrived at the car, the motor was running and the doors were locked. Inside was Cole’s five-month-old son. The baby was asleep in a car seat.

The woman’s actions “…knowingly or intentionally placed said dependent in a situation that endangered (the child’s) life or health…” by leaving the baby unattended in the car, the charging affidavit stated.

The charges were filed on January 3.

Bail in the case has been set at $10,000 by corporate surety bond or $1,000 cash

Fire at site of new Scottsburg Mall declared accidental

Written by Marty Randall

Friday, 05 January 2018 15:42

Though it may have appeared that workers had started a fire on the site of the new Scottsburg Mall on December 26, the blaze was definitely accidental.

Scottsburg firemen and police halted traffic for a short time while the oily black smoke and flames were dissipated just east of Stop Light Liquors.

Fire Chief James Richey said an investigation of the fire verified that a malfunction of a portable generator started sparks flying. Those sparks caught $1,500 worth of roofing material stacked nearby on fire. That material was the apparent source of the roiling black smoke that briefly marked the site of the blaze at the Interstate 65 interchange with State Road 56.

The fire consumed the generator and several other pieces of equipment plus stacked wood pallets as well.

Volunteer firemen attacked the blaze with water and extinguished it within minutes of reaching the scene.

Plans for the mall were approved last year, and work to relocate a sewer main on the site will be under way soon. Other needed utility work has been completed.

The new mall is expected to be the site of a Dollar Tree and will have additional space for other businesses.

Salem resident released but caught driving vehicle again

Written by Marty Randall

Friday, 05 January 2018 15:40

A Salem man who was recently released from the jail in downtown Scottsburg became an inmate once again when caught driving.

Robert E. Little, 57, was stopped by Deputy J.R. Ward on December 30. The license plate on the 1992 blue Buick Century Little was driving didn’t match the car’s registration, Deputy Ward explained to Little.

Little handed the officer the proper tags for the car that he had been carrying inside the vehicle. That problem handled, the deputy asked to check Little’s driver license. Little told him that he just recently got released from jail for a count of driving while suspended and that his license was still suspended.

Deputy Ward arrested Little for driving while suspended with a prior conviction, a Class A misdemeanor.

In an inventory of the car before it was impounded, the officer reported he found a glass pipe “…with a large amount of residue…” The residue tested positively for methamphetamine.

Little allegedly told the officer he had smoked meth while working on the car the previous day.

Now, Little’s charges include driving while suspended and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and Level 6 felonies of possession of meth and maintaining a common nuisance.

When he appeared in court for an initial hearing, Little entered a preliminary plea of not guilty and was assigned a jury trial date of March 27. He was also given the services of a public defender. Bail is $15,000 by corporate surety bond or $1,500 cash.